Shipping-crate.



PATENTED FEB. 24, 1903.

H. J 'WILLI AMS. SHIPPING CRATE.

APPLICATION- FILED An. 19, 1902. no MODEL.

K M7 fl/w" .Wflgesges I if lg agiep 1 I ,B'y I I I eAfien z ys UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY J. WILLIAMS, OF BOLIVAR, NEW YORK.

SHIPPING-ORATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 721,642, dated February 24, 1903. Application filed April 19, 1902. Serial No. 103,787. (No model.)

Shipping-Crate, of which the following is a' specification.

This invention relates to shipping-crates, and has for its object to provide an improved device of this character which combines lightness with durability and is also provided .with an improved cover; which may be placed within the crate and upon the bottom thereof, so that a plurality of crates may be conveniently nested for return shipment by placing one crate within two others, whereby three crates may be stored in the space ordinarilyoccupied by two crates. I

With these and other objects in view the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings,and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes in the form, proportion, size, and minor details may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a shipping-crate constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical central sectional View of three crates, which are nested for return shipment.

frames are connected by means of the longitudinal side slats 5, which are secured to the outer edges of the corner-posts, and similar bottom slats 6. It will be observed that the slats at the ends of the posts are comparatively broad and the adjacent end slats at the bottom of the crate abut,so as to strengthen I the crate. The posts of the respective end frames are furthermore connected by transverse slats 7, which are secured to the inner sides of the posts and have their opposite ends abutted against the inner sides of the adjacent longitudinal slats.

As indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawings, one of the upper end bars 1 is provided upon its inner face with a pair of spaced cleats 8, which extend for the entire length of the bar, so as to form a longitudinal groove. However, this groove may be formed directly in the end bar, if so desired. The opposite end bar is provided with a longitudinal cleat 9, which is designed to form an inner longitudinal shoulder, which has its upper face in the same plane with the lower wall of the groove in the other end bar.

The cover for the open end of the crate is formed by a pair of transverse end bars 10, which are connected by aplurality of slats 11. 'To place the cover in position, one end thereof is inserted into the groove in one of the end bars of the crate, and the opposite end is dropped down upon the shoulder 9, whereby the cover is prevented from being forced downwardly into the body of the crate. One end of the cover is held against accidental displacement by being seated within the groove in the crate, and to prevent upward displacement of the opposite end thereof there is provided a turn-button 12, of substantially L shape, which is swiveled within one end of a notch 13, formed in the upper and inner sides of the adjacent upper end bar 1, so that it may lie within the notch when not in use and may be turned upon its pivotally-mounted shank to overlap the adjacent edge of the cover, and thereby hold the latter against displacement.

To nest three crates of the same size, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the covers of the crates 14 and 15 are removed and placed in the bottom of the other crate, as shown at 16 and 17, this being possible by reason of the fact that each cover is substantially of the size of the interior of the crate, and therefore may be inclined to pass by the cleats at the'upper end of the crate and then placed upon the bottom thereof. One of the crates 14 or 15 is then placed upon its side, and the first crate is inserted into the same, after which the other crate is placed upon the projecting end of the inner crate and brought up against the opposite outer crate, whereby one crate is contained within two crates and the three crates occupy the space of but two crates. This nesting or assemblage of the crates is made possible by reason of the fact that each crate is wider than the depth thereof, so that by arranging two crates at right angles with the top and bottom of one crate corresponding to the opposite longitudinal sides of the other crate the one may be inserted into the other. When the crates have thus been nested, the adjacent slats of the outer crates are embraced by substantially U-shaped spring-clips 18, so as to prevent accidental separation of the crates, and the opposite sides or arms of the clips project between adjacent slats of the inner crate, so as to prevent lateral movement of the latter.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the present invention provides an exceedingly simple and durable crate which is also comparatively light by reason of its slatted structure, which also exposes the contents of the crate to View, so that it is not necessary to remove the cover thereof to inspect the contents. Furthermore, the cover may be conveniently applied and removed, and also may be placed Within the bottom of the crate, while the dimensions have a pcculiar relation, so as to permit of one crate being received within two others for return shipment.

What is claimed is- 1. The combination with a slatted crate,

having its inner width greater than its outer depth, and a removable cover, Whose dimensions are substantially those of the interior of the crate, so as to be received within the bottom of the latter, of two other duplicate crates, having their covers removed and received within one of the crates, the opposite end portions of the first-mentioned crate be ing received within the open ends of the other crates, and substantially U -shaped clips embracing adjacent slats of the opposite outer crates to connect the latter.

2. A crate, having its opposite ends formed by opposite transverse bars, which are mortised at opposite ends and in their outer faces, corner-posts secured within the corresponding mortises of the opposite transverse bars, slats secured transversely to the inner faces of respective corner-posts, longitudinal bottom slats secured to the lower sides of the opposite lower transverse bars, longitudinal side slats secured to the outer sides of opposite corner-posts, opposite inwardly-directed transverse shoulders provided upon the respective upper transverse end bars, a lid having substantially the same dimensions of the interior of the crate and supported upon the shoulders, and means for holding the lid against accidental displacement.

In testimony that 1 claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

HENRY J. WILLIAMS.

Witnesses:

\VARD PIRE, E. M. RHODES. 

